CBS’ Sunday lineup was down double-digits year-to-year across the board. 60 Minutes, featuring an interview with Arnold Schwarzenegger, did a 1.8/5 in 18-49, down 22% from last year’s season premiere. The Amazing Race (2.5/6), which just earned another best reality competition series Emmy, was down 17% for its lowest-rated premiere ever. Also logging their lowest-rated openers ever were The Good Wife (1.8/4, down 18% from last September) and The Mentalist (2.1/5, down 25% from its premiere on Thursday last fall) in its new Sunday time slot.

We'll see what CBS says tomorrow when the final weekly ratings are released.

Things are a lot more complicated than direct comparsions to other shows.

Deadline.com reported that of the first three nights of "Premiere Week" for CBS, shows aired Monday to Wednesday generally had picked up an additional 25% plus when time shifted viewing within three days are added in; the article suggested that DVR time-shifting has now exceeded 25% for all viewing, and as a result, the live numbers are just about meaningless for ratings purposes.

As I said before, we'll see what CBS has for the final for the week ending Sunday night tomorrow (Tuesday), but we may be needing to find reports of live plus 7 for a more accurate picture.

Also I heard that Neilsen announced this weekend the start of a new service to measure viewing of shows online, after months of testing. Such information can only help TAR, which provides viewing through CBS.com and Hulu, and allows you to buy episodes or the season for download through I-Tunes.

"I can't speak for production, but I really like that people see us when we're traveling around the world. If you're a fan of the show, ... you're going to be more excited because you want to see what happens." --Phil Keoghan

CBS is #1 at 10PM in Viewers, Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49 Monday to Friday

(Editor's Note: These ratings represent live plus same day viewing. Audience levels for Live + 3 Day DVR playback, which can increase a show’s audience significantly, come in several days later and will be announced at that time.)

CBS, which scored huge premieres for new dramas ELEMENTARY and VEGAS, won premiere week in viewers for the fourth consecutive year and finished second in adults 25-54, according to Nielsen preliminary live plus same day ratings for first week of the 2012-2013 season ending Sept. 30.

CBS won five of seven nights in premiere week in viewers (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday). CBS won three nights in both adults 25-54 and adults 18-49 and was second in these measures on two nights.

Among viewers, CBS had 17 of the week's top 30 programs, more than all the other networks combined, while among adults 18-49 CBS had 11 of the top 30, more than any other network.

CBS had the top four scripted programs – NCIS, NCIS: LOS ANGELES, THE BIG BANG THEORY and VEGAS – and eight of the top 10 (with PERSON OF INTEREST, ELEMENTARY, TWO AND A HALF MEN and CRIMINAL MINDS).

Among viewers, THE BIG BANG THEORY was the week's #1 comedy while VEGAS and ELEMENTARY were the week's top new series.

CBS had three of the top five comedies of the week with adults 18-49 – THE BIG BANG THEORY, 2 BROKE GIRLS and HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER. CBS had six of the top 10 dramas in adults 18-49 – NCIS, NCIS: LOS ANGELES, CRIMINAL MINDS, ELEMENTARY, PERSON OF INTEREST and VEGAS.

Monday through Friday, CBS was first at 10:00 PM in viewers (11.67m), adults 25-54 (3.1/08) and adults 18-49 (2.3/07).

The debut of ELEMENTARY and the return of popular CBS programs including THE BIG BANG THEORY, HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER and NCIS helped drive CBS.com Thursday, Friday and Sunday to some of the site’s most-trafficked days.

HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER (5.5/09, 8.84m) (P) was first in adults 18-49 (3.6/11) and adults 18-34 (3.2/11) and was second in adults 25-54 (4.0/10).

2 BROKE GIRLS (6.1/09, 10.02m) (P) was second in adults 25-54 (4.4/10) and adults 18-49 (3.7/09). 2 BROKE GIRLS was the night's #1 scripted program in both adults 25-54 and adults 18-49. 2 BROKE GIRLS built on its lead-in by +48% in households, +57% in adults 25-54, +54% in adults 18-49 and added +3.58m viewers.

NCIS (P) was first in households (12.5/20), viewers (20.48m) and adults 25-54 (5.7/15) and was second in adults 18-49 (4.1/12, -0.1 behind NBC). NCIS posted its second-largest season premiere audience ever, just behind the 2009 premiere (20.61m). The program posted its best deliveries in all these measures since Feb. 7, 2012, the program's 200th episode. NCIS was the night's #1 program in households, viewers and adults 25-54.

CBS was first on Thursday in households (8.7/14), viewers (13.94m), adults 25-54 (4.5/11) and adults 18-49 (3.4/10). CBS won Premiere Thursday for the third straight year in both household and viewers and won in adults 18-49 and adults 25-54 for the second time in three years.

THE BIG BANG THEORY (P) swept its time period, finishing first in households (9.5/16), viewers (15.66m), adults 25-54 (6.3/17), adults 18-49 (5.0/16) and adults 18-34 (3.6/13). THE BIG BANG THEORY was the night's #1 program in households, viewers, adults 25-54 and adults 18-49. THE BIG BANG THEORY posted its largest audience and best adults 18-49 rating ever for a season premiere. THE BIG BANG THEORY was up +10% in households, +2% in adults 18-49, +6% in adults 18-34 and even in adults 25-54 from last year's season premiere.

TWO AND A HALF MEN (P) was first in households (7.8/12), viewers (12.54m), adults 25-54 (4.6/12) and tied for first in adults 18-49 (3.5/10, with FOX). Compared to the time period premiere last year ("How to Be a Gentleman," on Sept. 29), TWO AND A HALF MEN was up +44% in households, +35% in adults 25-54 and +30% in adults 18-49.

PERSON OF INTEREST (P) was first in households (8.8/14), viewers (14.28m), second in both adults 25-54 (3.9/09) and adults 18-49 (2.9/08).

ELEMENTARY (P) was first in households (8.5/14), viewers (13.41m), adults 25-54 (4.0/10) and adults 18-49 (3.1/09). ELEMENTARY built on its PERSON OF INTEREST lead-in in both adults 25-54 (+5%) and adults 18-49 (+7%). Compared to the season premiere of THE MENTALIST last year (on Sept. 22), ELEMENTARY was +1% in households, +3% in adults 25-54 and +11% in adults 18-49.

CSI: NY (P) was first in households (6.0/11) and viewers (9.11m) and was second in adults 25-54 (1.8/06) and adults 18-49 (1.3/05).

MADE IN JERSEY (P) was first in households (5.2/09), viewers (7.82m), second in adults 25-54 (1.6/05) and tied for second in adults 18-49 (1.1/04, with both ABC and FOX).

THE MENTALIST (P) (10:00-11:00 PM) was second in households (7.1/12), viewers (11.06m) and adults 25-54 (3.0/07) and was tied for second in adults 18-49 (2.1/05, with ABC). Compared to the time period premiere last year ("CSI: Miami"), THE MENTALIST was up +11% in households (from 6.4/10) and added +1.17m viewers (from 9.89m, +12%)

CBS made a big point about waiting for the live plus three days numbers; and TAR still came close to 10 million. If the 25% or more watching timeshifted within three days applies to TAR, then that will produce a result of over 12 million. We'll have to wait and see what numbers come out. TAR's weekly numbers are going to be at a disadvantage because of this quirk in how the initial live ratings are reported to the networks and the advertisers.

THE AMAZING RACE 21 (8:33-9:33 PM) was second in households (5.8/08) and viewers (9.66m), was tied for second in adults 25-54 (3.5/07, with ABC) and averaged 2.6/07 in adults 18-49. Compared to last week's season premiere, THE AMAZING RACE 21 was up +4% in adults 18-49 (from 2.5/06) and added +260,000 viewers (from 9.40m, +3%).

"I can't speak for production, but I really like that people see us when we're traveling around the world. If you're a fan of the show, ... you're going to be more excited because you want to see what happens." --Phil Keoghan

We should expect that the live plus three numbers to be about the same as last week or a little higher, but that will bear watching this week to see if that expectation is on target.

One thing we're not getting is how many people are now viewing the episode on CBS.com or on Hulu, or via I-Tunes download; I suspect that the audience has not shrunk in the past few season, but that an increasing share of the audience is using new or time shifted media to watch the episodes.

We should expect that the live plus three numbers to be about the same as last week or a little higher, but that will bear watching this week to see if that expectation is on target.

One thing we're not getting is how many people are now viewing the episode on CBS.com or on Hulu, or via I-Tunes download; I suspect that the audience has not shrunk in the past few season, but that an increasing share of the audience is using new or time shifted media to watch the episodes.

Or watching it using some of the "unofficial" webpages where the episodes are posted every week, couple hours later TAR ends.

While the demo change is .6, that's just about a quarter of the 18-49 viewers who watched on a time - shifted basis; and it wouldn't be unreasonable to think that the same proportion applies to the total audience as well. (So, instead of 9.6 million, we might have had an additional 2.4 million, that would total 12 million.)

It's also interesting to note that the TAR premiere was equal to The Mentalizt in the demo group for CBS Sunday night lineup that weekend, well ahead of 60 Minutes and The Good Wife.

I'm keeping my eye out for anything further on the live plus seven front, but these numbers from top to bottom do strongly suggest confirmation that the time shifting has really picked up over the past couple of years.

Sounds like the preliminary overnight numbers are flat from last week (and the week before0, but as Deadline.com (TVLand.com) is reporting there were a number of markets that had a 22 minute overrun, and the numbers are not adjusted. Given how low the 60 Minutes and The Good Wife numbers might have been, that suggests that either way the overlaps may have pulled TAR down a tad in the overnights. We'll have to wait and see when the finals come out tomorrow.

RacerUntilWeDie, the real problem is the vastly increasing number of viewers opting for time shifted and alternate media viewing. Except for live sports programming in prime time, every single broadcast network program in prime time is having the same pattern developing, the main difference being the proportion of viewing that time shift for each show, especially in the demographics pf 18-49 and 25-56.We're also dealing with the rapid increase of cable viewership as a percentage of the whole number viewing at any one time.And I'm having to time shift shows myself, although I record TAR anyhow, I'm recording other shows that night, and on some time I am literally recording 6 hours of prime time, and catching or recording repeat airing of one or two cable shows because of the programming overlaps. It's getting to be ridiculous!

THE AMAZING RACE 21 (8:56-9:56 PM) was second in households (6.0/09), viewers (9.54m) and adults 25-54 (3.5/07), and averaged 2.0/06 in adults 18-49. Compared to last week, THE AMAZING RACE was up +9% in households (from 5.5/08), +3% in adults 25-54 (from 3.4/08), was even in adults 18-49 and added +430,000 viewers (from 9.11m, +5%).

"I can't speak for production, but I really like that people see us when we're traveling around the world. If you're a fan of the show, ... you're going to be more excited because you want to see what happens." --Phil Keoghan

There was financial and business news coverage yesterday from industry analysts about the drop in the raw weekly figures for the broadcast nets across the board, which I take to mean, they're now figuring out that even the same day plus three numbers are proving inadequate to prove viewership.

The problem with the Tuesday weekly numbers are that they're just the live plus same day viewing, and they're not even the numbers advertisers are using now. So we'll have to wait and see if anyone in the media gets the more important live plus three days, or live plus seven day numbers.

Given that the hybrid storm Sandy is headed towards the east coast, and the fact that watches and warnings were issued for the east coast from North Carolina to Maine, and well inland (Ohio, Indiana, and the southern Appalachians), in addition to the last game of the World Series plus NFL football), TAR's ratings may end up taking a hit.The only mention I've seen so far about the overnights was that TAR's total audience was down 8 percent from last week (but still over 9 million), however, it is possible the weekly live plus same day numbers may not be available tomorrow.

Because it deals with ratings, I'm posting a link and the quoted article from Deadline.com on Les Moonves (chairman of CBS) on the question of what ratings investors and advertisers should be looking at; he's in favor of ignoring overnight ratings and favors using the Live plus 7 data and including all mobile device views in the numbers:

Les Moonves Urges Industry Watchers To “Stop Looking At Overnight Ratings”By DAVID LIEBERMAN, Executive EditorAdd the CBS chief to the gaggle of broadcast network execs who say that their soft early-season ratings mostly reflect changes in viewing habits — not dissatisfaction with their shows. “DVR usage has been growing, and streaming is pretty new, as is VOD,” Les Moonves told analysts in a call to discuss CBS Corp’s Q3 earnings. CBS shares are down about 10% since the fall season began, in part because investors are concerned about the ratings. (CBS is -17.6% in primetime among 18- to 49-year-olds for the first six weeks.) Things should improve, Moonves says, as Nielsen begins to count the growing number of viewers who watch shows on digital gadgets including smartphones and tablets. And he hopes to fold in many DVR users who record shows and watch them several days later. While the current system counts people who watch ads up to three days after a program airs, “we’re pushing to get it seven days, and we think it will happen in a short time.” With all of the changes, “people have to stop looking at overnight ratings. It’s a different ballgame.” Yet he remains characteristically upbeat that CBS will improve soon. At the beginning of the season many viewers like to sample new shows on other networks, but then return to their familiar favorites. “This past week we had our highest rated week ever,” Moonves says. Advertisers “realize by the end of the year we’re going to be fine” — and CBS won’t have to offer them make-good ads to compensate for ratings shortfalls.

The Amazing Race and Revenge were adjusted up a tenth while 60 Minutes was adjusted down four tenths and The Mentalist, 666 Park Ave. and American Dad were each adjusted down a single tenth among adults 18-49 versus Sunday's preliminary ratings. The final ratings for Sunday Night Football are also below.

Here's what the CBS press release for the weekly ratings had to say about this past Sunday's episode compared to last week's (which weren't posted here, so it gives us more information about last Sunday as well:

Quote

THE AMAZING RACE 21 (8:34-9:34 PM) was second in households (6.3/09) and viewers (10.20m), tied for second in adults 25-54 (3.6/07, with ABC) and averaged 2.6/06 in 18-49. Compared to last week, THE AMAZING RACE 21 was up +13% in households (from 5.6/08), +3% in adults 25-54 (from 3.5/07), +4% in adults 18-49 (from 2.5/06) and +790,000 viewers (from 9.41m, +8%).

So for the episode aired 10/28, Households were 5.6/08, adults 25-54 3.5/07, adults 18-49 (2.5/06) and 9.41 million viewers.For this week, the episode aired 11/4, Households were 6.3/09, adults 25-54 3.6/07, adults 18-49 2.6/06; and 10.20 million viewers. And the show placed in the top 25 for the week: